The Passive: When, why, and how to use it

Summary

In this lesson from EngVid, Adam explains the passive form of verbs, highlighting how and why it is used. He starts by reviewing the basic structure of passive sentences, where the object becomes the subject. Adam then dives into four key reasons to use the passive: when the subject is unknown, obvious, or unimportant; for sentence variety; to shift focus in writing; and to improve flow and coherence. The lesson emphasizes how mastering the passive voice can enhance both writing and communication, especially for exams like IELTS and TOEFL.

Takeaways

• 📝 The passive form of a verb is used when the focus is on the action or object rather than the subject performing the action.
• 🐱 A basic active sentence like 'The cat ate the rat' can be transformed into a passive sentence: 'The rat was eaten by the cat.'
• 🔄 Passive sentences reverse the usual order of subject and object, emphasizing the recipient of the action.
• 🤔 The passive form is constructed by using the 'be' verb followed by the past participle (verb three).
• 🙅‍♂️ One common reason to use the passive is when the subject is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
• ✍️ Passive voice helps shift focus in writing, especially when connecting ideas between sentences.
• 💡 Using the passive in writing adds sentence variety, making your writing more engaging and less repetitive.
• 🔄 The passive can improve coherence and flow, helping to transition smoothly from one sentence or idea to another.
• ✈️ Passive is often used for providing information, such as historical facts ('The airplane was invented in the early 20th century').
• 🎯 In writing, the passive voice can help direct the reader’s attention to the most important part of the sentence, such as focusing on an object or action rather than the doer.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video lesson?

The main focus of the video lesson is to explain the passive form of verbs, how to construct passive sentences, and the four reasons to use the passive form.

How is a basic active sentence structured, according to the video?

A basic active sentence is structured with the subject performing an action on the object, such as in 'The cat ate the rat.'

What is the key difference between active and passive sentences?

In passive sentences, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and the original subject becomes less important or optional, often introduced by 'by' as the agent. For example, 'The rat was eaten by the cat.'

How is a passive sentence constructed?

A passive sentence is constructed using the 'be' verb followed by the past participle (verb three) of the main verb. For example, 'was eaten' in 'The rat was eaten by the cat.'

What are the four reasons to use the passive voice as explained in the video?

The four reasons to use the passive voice are: 1) The subject is unknown, obvious, or not important. 2) To shift focus from the subject to the object. 3) To add sentence variety. 4) For coherence and flow in writing.

When should you use the passive voice because the subject is unknown, obvious, or not important?

You should use the passive voice when the subject is unknown (e.g., 'The building was vandalized'), obvious ('The flowers were delivered on time'), or not important ('The roads were fixed quickly').

How does using the passive voice improve sentence variety?

Using the passive voice allows you to vary sentence structure, moving away from repetitive subject-verb-object patterns. This variety makes your writing more engaging and less monotonous.

Why is shifting focus an important reason to use the passive voice in writing?

Shifting focus is important because it allows you to emphasize different parts of a sentence, such as placing focus on the object rather than the subject, especially when the object is more important to the overall context.

How does the passive voice help create coherence and flow in writing?

The passive voice helps create coherence and flow by allowing writers to connect ideas smoothly, especially when transitioning from one sentence to the next, ensuring that the focus remains consistent and logical.

What is an example of how the passive voice shifts focus in writing about Coca-Cola?

In the example 'Coca-Cola was invented by a pharmacist named John Pemberton,' the passive voice shifts the focus from John Pemberton to Coca-Cola, which is the main subject of discussion.